State Eligibility Test

MP SET - 2018
PHYSICAL SCIENCES [CODE No. – 15]
Syllabus
PAPER – II
Note:-
The Paper- II will have 100 Multiple Type Questions (Multiple Choice, Matching Type,
True/False and Assertion-Reasoning Type) and all are compulsory. Each Question will carry
two marks Total marks of Paper - II will be 200 marks.

PAPER – II
PART ‘A’ CORE

I. Mathematical Methods of Physics

Dimensional analysis. Vector algebra and vector calculus. Linear algebra, matrices, Cayley
Hamilton Theorem. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Linear ordinary differential equations of
first & second order, Special functions (Hermite, Bessel, Laguerre and Legendre functions).
Fourier series, Fourier and Laplace transforms. Elements of complex analysis, analytic
functions; Taylor & Laurent series; poles, residues and evaluation of integrals. Elementary
probability theory, random variables, binomial, Poisson and normal distributions. Central
limit theorem.
II. Classical Mechanics
Newton’s laws. Dynamical systems, Phase space dynamics, stability analysis. Central force
motions. Two body Collisions - scattering in laboratory and Centre of mass frames. Rigid
body dynamics- moment of inertia tensor. Non-inertial frames and pseudoforces. Variational
principle. Generalized coordinates. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism and equations of
motion. Conservation laws and cyclic coordinates. Periodic motion: small oscillations,
normal modes. Special theory of relativity- Lorentz transformations, relativistic kinematics
and mass–energy equivalence.
III. Electromagnetic Theory Electrostatics: Gauss’s law and its applications, Laplace and
Poisson equations, boundary value problems. Magnetostatics: Biot-Savart law, Ampere's
theorem. Electromagnetic induction. Maxwell's equations in free space and linear isotropic
media; boundary conditions on the fields at interfaces. Scalar and vector potentials, gauge
invariance. Electromagnetic waves in free space. Dielectrics and conductors. Reflection and
refraction, polarization, Fresnel’s law, interference, coherence, and diffraction. Dynamics of
charged particles in static and uniform electromagnetic fields.
IV. Quantum Mechanics
Wave-particle duality. Schrödinger equation (time-dependent and time-independent).
Eigenvalue problems (particle in a box, harmonic oscillator, etc.). Tunneling through a
barrier. Wave-function in coordinate and momentum representations. Commutators and
Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Dirac notation for state vectors. Motion in a central
potential: orbital angular momentum, angular momentum algebra, spin, addition of angular
momenta; Hydrogen atom. Stern-Gerlach experiment. Time-independent perturbation
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 theory and applications. Variational method. Time dependent perturbation theory and
Fermi's golden rule, selection rules. Identical particles, Pauli exclusion principle, spin-
statistics connection.
V. Thermodynamic and Statistical Physics
Laws of thermodynamics and their consequences. Thermodynamic potentials, Maxwell
relations, chemical potential, phase equilibria. Phase space, micro- and macro-states. Micro-
canonical, canonical and grand-canonical ensembles and partition functions. Free energy
and its connection with thermodynamic quantities. Classical and quantum statistics. Ideal
Bose and Fermi gases. Principle of detailed balance. Blackbody radiation and Planck's
distribution law.
VI. Electronics and Experimental Methods
Semiconductor devices (diodes, junctions, transistors, field effect devices, homo- and
hetero-junction devices), device structure, device characteristics, frequency dependence and
applications. Opto-electronic devices (solar cells, photo-detectors, LEDs). Operational
amplifiers and their applications. Digital techniques and applications (registers, counters,
comparators and similar circuits). A/D and D/A converters. Microprocessor and
microcontroller basics.
Data interpretation and analysis. Precision and accuracy. Error analysis, propagation of
errors. Least squares fitting,

PART ‘B’ ADVANCED

I. Mathematical Methods of Physics
Green’s function. Partial differential equations (Laplace, wave and heat equations in two and
three dimensions). Elements of computational techniques: root of functions, interpolation,
extrapolation, integration by trapezoid and Simpson’s rule, Solution of first order
differential equation using Runge-Kutta method. Finite difference methods. Tensors.
Introductory group theory: SU(2), O(3).
II. Classical Mechanics
Dynamical systems, Phase space dynamics, stability analysis. Poisson brackets and canonical
transformations. Symmetry, invariance and Noether’s theorem. Hamilton-Jacobi theory.
III. Electromagnetic Theory
Dispersion relations in plasma. Lorentz invariance of Maxwell’s equation. Transmission
lines and wave guides. Radiation- from moving charges and dipoles and retarded potentials.
IV. Quantum Mechanics
Spin-orbit coupling, fine structure. WKB approximation. Elementary theory of scattering:
phase shifts, partial waves, Born approximation. Relativistic quantum mechanics: Klein-
Gordon and Dirac equations. Semi-classical theory of radiation.
V. Thermodynamic and Statistical Physics
First- and second-order phase transitions. Diamagnetism, paramagnetism, and
ferromagnetism. Ising model. Bose-Einstein condensation. Diffusion equation. Random
walk and Brownian motion. Introduction to nonequilibrium processes.
VI. Electronics and Experimental Methods

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 Linear and nonlinear curve fitting, chi-square test. Transducers (temperature,
pressure/vacuum, magnetic fields, vibration, optical, and particle detectors). Measurement
and control. Signal conditioning and recovery. Impedance matching, amplification (Op-amp
based, instrumentation amp, feedback), filtering and noise reduction, shielding and
grounding. Fourier transforms, lock-in detector, box-car integrator, modulation techniques.
High frequency devices (including generators and detectors).
VII. Atomic & Molecular Physics
Quantum states of an electron in an atom. Electron spin. Spectrum of helium and alkali
atom. Relativistic corrections for energy levels of hydrogen atom, hyperfine structure and
isotopic shift, width of spectrum lines, LS & JJ couplings. Zeeman, Paschen-Bach & Stark
effects. Electron spin resonance. Nuclear magnetic resonance, chemical shift. Frank-Condon
principle. Born-Oppenheimer approximation. Electronic, rotational, vibrational and Raman
spectra of diatomic molecules, selection rules. Lasers: spontaneous and stimulated emission,
Einstein A & B coefficients. Optical pumping, population inversion, rate equation. Modes of
resonators and coherence length.
VIII. Condensed Matter Physics
Bravais lattices. Reciprocal lattice. Diffraction and the structure factor. Bonding of solids.
Elastic properties, phonons, lattice specific heat. Free electron theory and electronic specific
heat. Response and relaxation phenomena. Drude model of electrical and thermal
conductivity. Hall effect and thermoelectric power. Electron motion in a periodic potential,
band theory of solids: metals, insulators and semiconductors. Superconductivity: type-I and
type-II superconductors. Josephson junctions. Superfluidity. Defects and dislocations.
Ordered phases of matter: translational and orientational order, kinds of liquid crystalline
order. Quasi crystals.
IX. Nuclear and Particle Physics
Basic nuclear properties: size, shape and charge distribution, spin and parity. Binding
energy, semi-empirical mass formula, liquid drop model. Nature of the nuclear force, form
of nucleon-nucleon potential, charge-independence and charge-symmetry of nuclear forces.
Deuteron problem. Evidence of shell structure, single-particle shell model, its validity and
limitations. Rotational spectra. Elementary ideas of alpha, beta and gamma decays and their
selection rules. Fission and fusion. Nuclear reactions, reaction mechanism, compound nuclei
and direct reactions.
Classification of fundamental forces. Elementary particles and their quantum numbers
(charge, spin, parity, isospin, strangeness, etc.). Gellmann-Nishijima formula. Quark model,
baryons and mesons. C, P, and T invariance. Application of symmetry arguments to particle
reactions. Parity non-conservation in weak interaction. Relativistic kinematics.

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